Durham County
HomeResearch
Rigorous science provides the foundation for successful conservation. The Durham County Open Space Program supports research to better understand and protect the County’s natural and cultural resources.
Landscape Connectivity
Wildlife corridors allow wild animals to move between larger blocks of protected habitat and are an essential part of conservation efforts in urban areas. The Open Space Program has collaborated with groups like the Triangle Connectivity Collaborative to map corridors and habitat patches across Durham County.
New Hope Bottomlands
The New Hope Creek Bottomlands, a core part of the larger New Hope Creek Corridor, is one of the most significant and biologically diverse ecosystems in central North Carolina. Thanks in part to research coordinated by the Open Space Program, it is also now one of the best-studied natural areas in the State.
Piedmont Prairies
Durham County is home to several remnant Piedmont Prairies, ecosystems which were once common throughout the region. These places are home to many unique plant species and are an important part of Durham's natural and cultural history.
Monitoring and Citizen Science
You don't have to be a professional researcher to contribute to science-based conservation efforts. Citizen science projects provide invaluable data that allow land managers, conservationists, and the public to understand our local ecosystems and how they change over time.